BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — LSU coach Lane Kiffin said Thursday that he is standing by his initial stance on allowing cornerback D.J. Pickett to wear the No. 5 jersey previously worn by 2023 Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels — even in the face of objections and legal threats from the former Tigers quarterback.
“I commented a week ago on that,” Kiffin said. “That’s the comment that I had and we’re moving forward.”
Pickett also did not indicate any interest in giving up the No. 5 when he spoke with reporters after Thursday’s practice.
“I’ve been wearing the number my whole life, since I was 4 years old,” Pickett said. “That was the number I was promised. I wish Jayden the best. Good player — he did real good here.”
Daniels, drafted second overall by the Washington Commanders in 2024, issued a statement in a social media post on Thursday afternoon in which he sought to offer assurances that the matter would not affect his preparation for the coming NFL season.
“I have been locked in on training camp and that has been my No. 1 focus,” Daniels’ statement said. “I have a lot of gratitude for my time at LSU and I’m proud of what my teammates and I accomplished there.
“Obviously there are issues to get worked out” with LSU, Daniels continued. “My hope is that it will get done privately. … I realize the business of football is unique and I trust that this can all be resolved.”
Daniels’ statement came in the wake of reports about a letter in which his Miami-based attorney, Adam Kenner, demanded that LSU no longer use his client’s name, image or likeness to promote the university or its athletic programs.
Pickett wore a No. 3 jersey as a freshman last year but was wearing No. 5 when August camp opened last week. The 6-foot-5 cornerback is a former five-star recruit who had three interceptions in 2025.
Kiffin said last week that Pickett was promised the opportunity to wear No. 5 when he signed with LSU in December 2024, when Brian Kelly was coaching the Tigers. Kelly was fired in October 2025, and Kiffin was hired at the end of the regular season.
“When a kid’s promised something to come to a school, he should wear it,” Kiffin said during an Aug. 5 media session. “So at that point, I don’t think it’s really my decision. We should honor what he was told.”
Pickett is the first player to wear the No. 5 since Daniels left LSU. Under LSU policy, the only number current football players cannot wear is the No. 20, worn by the late Billy Cannon, who was the Tigers’ first Heisman winner in 1959.
Top LSU officials, including Athletic Director Verge Ausberry, have declined to comment on the matter.
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